Chapter 644: Heavenly Mysterious Capital

Ling Yuxiu ran out of the grand boat’s cabin. She too noticed something unusual about the vessel and whispered, “Herder, the keel of this boat is a real dragon’s spine!”

Qin Mu was stunned. He followed her into the cabin and saw that the boat's keel was indeed the enormous skeleton of a divine dragon. When the boat soared through the air, the keel swayed from side to side like a snake.

Moreover, he noticed that giant ribs formed the main structure of the boat.

He gently touched the hull; its surface felt warm and smooth. The boat's outer skin was also made from the hide of gods and devils.

"Using the flesh and blood of gods and devils to forge a boat, and their heads to craft treasures—the Crimson Light Era was truly barbaric."

Qin Mu and Ling Yuxiu shivered repeatedly. The grand boat had already set sail and was flying towards the Spirit Energy Migration Bridge. Qin Mu stepped onto the deck, where Bain Gengcuo was examining the deck. Qin Mu scrutinized it carefully, then looked up at Bain Gengcuo. Bain Gengcuo was also looking at him. With a shared understanding, they both exclaimed simultaneously, "Bone plate plating!"

The entire deck of the grand boat was crafted from bone plate plating. It was impossible to imagine how many gods and devils must have been slain to create such a vessel.

"Mr. Chixi, the way gods and devils conducted themselves in your Crimson Light Era was excessively tyrannical and terrifying."

The Human Emperor, the First Ancestor, looked at the grand boat's structure and shook his head. "To forge a boat like this, I fear thousands of gods and devils must have been killed."

Chixi chuckled, "Your Founding Emperor Era only lasted for twenty thousand years, didn't it?"

The Human Emperor, the First Ancestor, paused for a moment, then nodded. "Less than twenty thousand years."

Chixi continued, "You haven't even seen twenty thousand years, so you can't possibly understand what the Crimson Light Era endured. Gods and devils have no lifespan limits; twenty thousand years is enough time for millions of them to be born. These gods and devils neither age nor die, so the longer a dynasty lasts, the more gods and devils there are. However, the Crimson Light Divine Dynasty had a history of one hundred thousand years. The sheer number of gods and devils became unbearable even for nature itself. The cosmic territory your Founding Emperor Era ruled was far from the scale of the Crimson Light Era, being two to three times smaller than the Crimson Light Divine Dynasty. Yet, even with such a vast territory, it couldn't sustain so many gods and devils. Some rising talents, lacking room for advancement, would rebel and cause chaos. As for chaos..."

His expression was calm, but his voice carried an endless intent to kill. "Of course, they were killed! Haha, to kill thousands of gods and devils to forge treasures, and such valuable treasures at that, is certainly worth it."

The Human Emperor, the First Ancestor, frowned. "That seems to go against the harmony of Heaven."

"Go against the harmony of Heaven? Your Founding Emperor Era was annihilated, countless people died; did that not go against the harmony of Heaven?"

Chixi sneered. "For example, the Taotie pouch on your person, isn't that a treasure crafted from the slain Taotie monstrous beast?"

Qin Mu shook his head. "Both of my Taotie pouches were forged by the Great Elder and given to me by him."

Bain Gengcuo's face turned ashen.

Chixi said, "Killing gods and devils to forge treasures has happened throughout history. My Crimson Light Divine Dynasty was destroyed three hundred and fifty thousand years ago, followed by the Emperor's Era. The Emperor's Era lasted for three hundred thousand years, making it the longest and most prosperous era in history. The main reason why the remnants of our Crimson Light Divine Dynasty have been hiding in the Suspended World for so long, without seeking our ancestral land, is primarily out of fear of being captured by the Emperor's Heavenly Court and used for crafting treasures!"

Qin Mu recalled his inexplicable crossing over. The Bai Quer siblings didn't seem like people who would kill others for treasure crafting. However, judging from his experience at the Qushan Temple, Qushan God must have also slain a Taotie divine beast to forge treasures and the palace.

His heart stirred. He took out the Lunar Jade Eye and the Solar Jade Eye from his Taotie pouch and asked, "Senior Chixi, these two treasures should be from the Emperor's Era, correct?"

Chixi glanced at them and said, "They should be. If they are truly treasures from the Emperor's Era, then these two eyes aren't made of jade; they are real eyes of a god or devil, likely the eyeballs of a Taotie."

Qin Mu was startled. Yet, when he touched the jade eyes, he clearly felt them to be made of jade, with no hint of flesh and blood. "Could the Emperor's Era have been as brutal as the Crimson Light Era? But judging by how Bai Quer and his siblings handled things, they didn't seem cruel at all. So, how did the Emperor's Era solve the problem of too many gods and devils?"

The grand boat passed through the Spirit Energy Migration Bridge and arrived at the Grand Emperor Heaven. Upon reaching Licheng, Qin Mu disembarked to inquire, but the Imperial Preceptor of Eternal Peace had not returned.

"Then the Imperial Preceptor must be cultivating in the Demon Race's Luofu Heaven, following Saint Master Qiaofu."

They then went to Luofu Heaven, a desolate, dying world with no sign of human life. Altars stood tall, and gods and devils, tirelessly holding divine weapons, guarded them.

Qin Mu approached the altar where Saint Qiaofu resided. The Human Emperor, the First Ancestor, couldn't help but feel excited. However, when Saint Qiaofu saw him from afar, he immediately turned away, avoiding his gaze.

The Human Emperor, the First Ancestor, looked disheartened.

Chixi looked at Qiaofu and sneered continuously.

Qin Mu ascended the altar and explained his purpose. Saint Qiaofu said, "Your junior brother is still in secluded cultivation and will not emerge for now. You might have to wait a year or even eighteen months for him to come out."

Qin Mu shook his head. "There isn't enough time. Since my junior brother is in seclusion, could you please tell me what I should be aware of during this journey, Master?"

Saint Qiaofu looked at him deeply, then smiled. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Observe their words and actions, and simply follow what others do. If you can't win, take off the willow leaf on your forehead."

Qin Mu said, "The people of the Crimson Light Era had a wild and ferocious nature. If I 'do as the Romans do,' I might end up killing people."

Qiaofu laughed. "That's why I told you to remove the willow leaf when you can't win. Even if you cause a massive catastrophe, isn't there still Earth Count?"

Qin Mu's face turned as black as charcoal.

With his back to the Human Emperor, the First Ancestor, Qiaofu said calmly, "Furthermore, you cannot trust deserters. A deserter who fled once will flee a second time."

Qin Mu looked back and saw the Human Emperor, the First Ancestor, standing silently at the bow of the boat, not uttering a word.

Saint Qiaofu called Ling Yuxiu over and smiled. "Girl, you are far more accomplished than your father. When you ascend to the divine throne in the future, you must be kind to all beings, treat my disciple well, and heed his every word."

Ling Yuxiu glanced at Qin Mu, overflowing with joy, and said, "I will."

"Good child, your cultivation is the weakest. Before you depart, I'll give you a little something."

Qiaofu smiled, then suddenly swung his woodcutting axe, striking Ling Yuxiu directly on the forehead.

Ling Yuxiu was startled but felt no pain. Qiaofu struck her forehead more than ten times, each blow landing precisely, then put away his large axe. "Child of the Ling family, remember what was said today. You may go now."

Ling Yuxiu, quite puzzled, followed Qin Mu back to the grand boat.

Chixi looked at Qiaofu's retreating figure and sneered, "Fellow Daoist, if there's an opportunity in the future, let's have another contest!"

Qiaofu, with his back to them, waved his hand. The grand boat roared as it surged towards the heavens, quickly disappearing from sight.

The vast starry sky stretched out. A grand boat, vibrating with three pairs of wings, streaked like flowing light across the dark cosmos. The boat sped rapidly, gaining ever more speed. With almost no resistance in space, the vessel accelerated to an unimaginable degree, racing like lightning.

They quickly passed through a belt of shattered asteroid fragments. Rocky celestial bodies, some as large as mountains, repeatedly slammed into the grand boat with dull thuds. However, the boat's runes glowed, and these mountain-sized fragments instantly disintegrated into dust.

Chixi took out a star compass to determine their position. Above the compass, a magnificent star map was projected. He said, "In six months, we will reach the Crimson Light Suspended World. During this half-year, you are free to move around, but you must not leave this boat."

Qin Mu examined the star map projection. He noticed that the star tracks on the map were extremely peculiar; entire galaxies rotated around the same point, which was empty except for dazzling light.

"Senior Chixi, what is this place?" he asked, pointing to the black hole-like region.

Chixi glanced at it, raising an eyebrow. "Country boy, you haven't even ventured beyond your ancestral land, so naturally, you wouldn't know the wonders of the universe."

The Human Emperor, the First Ancestor, took a look and said, "That place is opposite Youdu, the dwelling of Celestial Venerable, and it is extremely mysterious."

Ling Yuxiu had also never heard of Celestial Venerable. Listening alongside Qin Mu, she asked, "Celestial Venerable is opposed to Youdu? Earth Count of Youdu reaps souls, so what does Celestial Venerable do?"

Before the Human Emperor, the First Ancestor, could answer, Chixi interjected, "Celestial Venerable is the ancestor of all gods, overseeing the movements of celestial phenomena, just and impartial. Behind all the stars you see in the sky, Celestial Venerable is at work. The stars of all worlds and heavens are controlled by Celestial Venerable. This god is no less formidable than Earth Count, capable of projecting billions of stellar avatars; truly powerful!"

The Human Emperor, the First Ancestor, added, "Celestial Venerable can freely enter any world. However, the sky of Eternal Peace is false, and Eternal Peace has no true celestial phenomena, so Celestial Venerable cannot enter there."

Bain Gengcuo had also never heard of this and found himself listening intently. He suddenly said, "Doesn't that mean the sun, moon, and stars we see are all fake?"

"Not entirely fake."

The Human Emperor, the First Ancestor, explained, "During the daytime in the Great Ruins, the sun you see is real. Sometimes during the day, you can also see the moon, Venus, and a few scattered stars, which are also real."

Bain Gengcuo stood in a daze, murmuring, "Only what we see in the Great Ruins is real; everything outside is fake. So, who is the Great Ruins' seal for...?"

Qin Mu glanced at him. "Naturally, it's to seal those outside the Great Ruins. Great Elder, haven't you ever wondered why people outside the Great Ruins only possess Four Spirit Bodies, while the spirit bodies within the Great Ruins are incredibly diverse?"

Bain Gengcuo was crestfallen. "Sealing us, hehe, sealing us... What did we do wrong to be sealed?"

People outside the Great Ruins had always looked down on the inhabitants of the Great Ruins, calling them "abandoned people."

Bain Gengcuo was originally a Great Elder of the grasslands and the founder of the Loulan Golden Palace. He especially disdained the people of the Great Ruins, often capturing their strange beasts and "abandoned people" to cultivate his witchcraft. However, hearing the First Ancestor's words now shattered his beliefs and pride!

He had lived for ten thousand years, only to realize now that he was the "abandoned people"!

Abandoned by gods!

"Why, after breaking our divine bridge, are we still sealed? Why are we not allowed to become deities...?"

He didn't trust Qin Mu, but he had absolute faith in the words of the Human Emperor, the First Ancestor, because this being was the first Human Emperor, the man who led the ancestors of all races out of the world-ending catastrophe!

Bain Gengcuo's ancestors were among them!

Anyone else might lie to him, but only the Human Emperor, the First Ancestor, would not.

As the grand boat flew through the starry sky, it left a dazzling, long-lasting trail of light. The god Chixi looked back, frowning. "Although this boat is fast, it's not unmatched in the world. The treasure vessel has left a trail, and I fear it might be discovered by enemies. We need to borrow a path from Celestial Venerable and hasten to the Suspended World as soon as possible, so our enemies don't discover its location!"

Qin Mu's spirits lifted. "Borrow a path from Celestial Venerable? Does that mean we'll get to see this magnificent being?"

"Not yet. It will still take more than a month to fly from here to where Celestial Venerable resides!"

The grand boat sped onward like a fleeting shadow. After several days, Qin Mu and Ling Yuxiu were cultivating their primordial spirits together when the boat suddenly paused slightly and slowed down. Both withdrew their primordial spirits and went up to the deck. They saw a vast divine city floating isolated in space, with a sun revolving around it.

This divine city was in ruins, likely destroyed in a terrifying war.

As the grand boat passed above the divine city, Qin Mu looked down and saw many fallen, colossal statues within it. These statues all had three heads and six arms, presumably sculptures from the Crimson Light Era.

Soon after, they arrived at a shattered star, which also had numerous buildings in the Crimson Light Era style.

Along the way, shattered divine cities silently floated in space. Countless lifeless bodies could also be seen drifting helplessly on this path.

To find a place of refuge, the powerhouses of the Crimson Light Era left behind countless gods and devils to protect their kin as they journeyed. Most of them died in battle here.

"No matter how wild the customs of the Crimson Light Era were, they fought to the death for the continuation of their race," Qin Mu mused.

Finally, the grand boat entered a blank zone, a world composed entirely of light.

As the boat entered the light, those on board found they couldn't see their own shadows. The light came from every direction, creating no shadows at all!

Qin Mu turned to look back at the path they had come from and was greatly shocked. He could actually see the Great Ruins, shrouded in darkness!

The Great Ruins seemed to be almost within reach!

However, the Eternal Peace Empire outside the Great Ruins was completely invisible!

He couldn't see Eternal Peace, couldn't see the Western Lands, couldn't see the South Sea, North Sea, or West Sea!

Those places were obscured by false celestial phenomena, making them impossible to see.

Besides the Great Ruins, he also saw the Grand Emperor Heaven and Luofu Heaven!

He looked up and suddenly felt as if he had discovered an entirely new world. Countless starlight illuminated the sky, and various heavens, large and small, appeared on the celestial curtain, some bright, some dim, with some still in the process of destruction!

From his vantage point, these worlds appeared small and close to them. Yet, Qin Mu knew that these worlds were actually incredibly distant, and those tiny specks of starlight were, in fact, colossal suns!

"This is Xuandu, the dwelling of Celestial Venerable, corresponding to Youdu," the Human Emperor, the First Ancestor, softly said.

Qin Mu quickly scanned his surroundings and asked, "Where is Celestial Venerable?"

"Right beside us."

Chixi turned and saw that the grand boat's light trail was obscured by the surrounding radiance, and he let out a sigh of relief. He said, "We are currently passing in front of one of his eyes. After another day or two of flying, you will be able to see the full extent of this eye."